Jewish Museum of New Jersey facts for kids
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Ahavas Sholom
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Ahavas Sholom building in 2014
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 Location in Essex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 145 Broadway Newark, New Jersey |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001530 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 13, 2000 |
The Jewish Museum of New Jersey, located inside the historic Ahavas Sholom building at 145 Broadway in Newark, is a special place that shares the rich history of Jewish people in New Jersey. It's found in Essex County, New Jersey, in the United States.
The museum first opened its doors in 2007, but it was founded a few years earlier in 2003. The Ahavas Sholom building itself is very old and important. It was built in 1923 and is the oldest synagogue in Newark that has been used continuously since it opened. This beautiful two-story brick building is designed in a style called Classical Revival architecture, which looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 2000. It was recognized for its importance in art, religion, and social history. Long ago, Newark had about 70,000 Jewish residents and fifty synagogues. This made it the sixth largest Jewish community in the United States. Ahavas Sholom is one of the few synagogues still standing from that time.
Inside the Museum
When you visit the museum, you can see the amazing Aron Kodesh, also known as the Holy Ark. This is a very special cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept. This particular Aron Kodesh was built in the 1870s for a different synagogue in New York City. It was moved to Newark in the 1920s. It is the oldest hand-carved wooden Aron Kodesh in all of New Jersey.
What You Can See
The Jewish Museum of New Jersey creates many different exhibits. These shows use photographs, paintings, and special displays. They also include old items, written stories, music, and videos. The museum covers many interesting topics. You can learn about people who survived the Holocaust and later lived in New Jersey. You can also discover the history of Jewish immigration to the state. Another topic is the history of Sephardic Jews in New Jersey. The museum is open for special events and programs. You can also visit by making an appointment.
Why the Museum Was Created
New Jersey has the fourth largest Jewish population in the United States. Jewish history in the state goes all the way back to the 1600s. Mr. Joseph Selzer, who founded the museum, visited the Jewish Museum of Florida. That museum is located in an old synagogue built in 1936. Mr. Selzer realized that even though New Jersey had many Jewish people, there was no museum to save their history.
Today, over half a million people in New Jersey are Jewish. The museum helps to preserve more than 400 years of Jewish history in the state. It is the first central place for learning, showing, and researching this important history. It has permanent exhibits, rotating shows, and traveling displays.
See also
